South African franchises experienced a dramatic opening weekend in the EPCR Challenge Cup, headlined by a thrilling high-scoring victory for the Sharks in France and a agonizingly narrow defeat for the Cheetahs.
The Sharks emerged victorious from a 73-point thriller against Lou Rugby at Stade de Gerland, securing a dramatic 40–33 win thanks to a double from Lili Bester. Meanwhile, the Cheetahs suffered a heartbreaking 29–27 loss against Aviron Bayonnais at Stade Jean Dauger after turning down a late penalty kick to go for the winning try.
Match Summaries & Key Highlights
1. Lou Rugby 33 – 40 Sharks
- Dramatic Finish: With the scores locked at 33–33 and time expired on the clock, Lili Bester completed his brace following a slick offload from Zekhethelo Siyaya to seal the win for Durban’s finest.
- Try Scorers: Lili Bester (2), Jaco Williams, Manu Tshituka, Nick Hatton, and Zekhethelo Siyaya crossed the whitewash in a thrilling 6-try performance.
- TMO Controversy: The Sharks nearly put the game away earlier through Bradley Davids, but the try was chalked off after TMO review due to a collision by Stephan Lewies on Paddy Jackson.
2. Aviron Bayonnais 29 – 27 Cheetahs
- Gutsy Fightback: Trailing 22–13 at half-time, the Cheetahs fought back in the second half through tries from Carel-Jan Coetzee and Louis van der Westhuizen to take a 27–22 lead.
- Late Gamble Falls Short: After former Springbok scrum-half Herschel Jantjies put Bayonne back in front (29–27), the Cheetahs turned down a penalty kick at goal in favor of an attacking maul, leading to a turnover as time expired.
